Emerging competition from high-speed trains is posing a threat to China’s airline industry, according to Si Xianmin, chairman of China Southern Airlines.
"Over 80 per cent of the domestic aviation market will be impacted and about 518 flights are expected to see a 50 per cent plunge in traffic when the planned high-speed rail lines enter service," Si said at the Aviation Outlook Asia forum in Beijing.
He said the airline's weekly traffic on the Shanghai-Wuhan run had dropped by 30 per cent since high-speed trains started service on the route - and weekly traffic between Beijing and Taiyuan had plunged by more than 60 per cent for the same reason.
China has committed to build 18,000 kilometres of high-speed passenger rail track, expected to account for more than half of the world's total high-speed lines.
Aircargo Asia Pacific
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